We Are Marshall review

It's hard not to be pulled in by the touching story, even if you've seen it plenty of times before, just under a different name. A sports team struck by adversity overcomes impossible odds to triumph. In this instance the story happens to be true. Again, this by no way makes it unique, but it does help add a certain emotional resonance. Especially when the adversity involves the deaths of almost an entire team and its coaches. With so many heartstrings to pluck from, We Are Marshall orchestrates a catchy tune.

In 1970, 75 members of Marshall University football team, coaches, family members and fans died in a plane crash. For the small West Virginia town of Huntington, home of Marshall, the loss was devastating. Everyone in the community was affected. We Are Marshall, - the title taken from the University's rallying cry - is about the rebuilding of the team and with it, the healing of the town and the University.

As much as the film involves a considerable amount of football, it's fair to concede the claim that We Are Marshall is not a football film. Jamie Linden's screenplay does an effective job of balancing the personal stories with the fortunes of the team. The focus falls on Jack Lengyel (Matthew McConaughey), the new head coach brought in by University President Donald Dedmon (David Strathairn). With his unconventional style, Lengyel manages to win over those who questioned the decision to continue playing football in the wake of the tragedy.

When portraying a real person, in particular one still alive, the actor has to determine how closely he wants to make his impersonation. McConaughey has chosen to include Lengyel's presumed hunched stance and facial idiosyncrasies, which at times comes across as distracting and affected. That said, McConaughey fully embodies the spirit of Lengyel in an impassioned and engaging performance. Matthew Fox provides the perfect foil in his depiction of the earnest assistant coach Red Dawson. Only Anthony Mackie as team captain Nate Ruffin, one of four players not on the fateful flight, takes his performance into the realms of melodrama.

Director McG presses all the right buttons, adding plenty of humour and light touches to go with the sentimental and stirring moments. The instant of the plane's demise was conveyed very powerfully and the use of original newsreel footage from 1970 and photographs of the real people at the end, though again a familiar ploy, was effective.

There appears a ceaseless appetite for such stories. It's a well-trusted and successful formula and, when done with the accomplishment and sincerity of We Are Marshall, it seems churlish to bemoan the fact that it's unoriginal.

Kevin Murphy